Floor construction.



J. J. WVHITAGRE. FLOOR CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 23,1907

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. J. WHITAGRE. FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION FILED DEO. 23,

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

i. g f",nonnen/nimeer, or cAN'roN,oHro.

- essere." f

citiz'enfof thellni-tediStates, residing at Can-l tonfin` the county ofStarkifandState of Ohio, l

have'iriventedicermin .newaml useful -Improveinents 'in Floor'Construction, of which the' following; isa specification...

The :inventionA relates to the construction of fireproof fioorsf fout ofterra cotta" blocks and-'reinfrced.eoncrete.f. v s y The. generalLLobject of the' improvement is to :cbns'truct av ffloor with as series ofrows. of terracotta? blocks i located side by side and parallel with.the main floor, girders, and la rseries 'of transverse reinforcedgconcrete: beams extendingfrom onegirder tov another and formed betweenthe. adj acent` 4ends Iof,` .the l blocks,the beamsbeing formed: `withproj ections extending,intof'thencnds of the longitudinalcavitiesof'tmblocks.

`aN,furtherobject is to combine this general form -of "construction`with. an underlying layer of blocksloeated parallel with theoncretebeams,.and having channels formed `in panying advantages areattained by the con-v struction and arrangementI illustrated in, the

annexed drawings, inwhichif 40f showing the lgeneral form' yof, the.-.im roved constructionkwith one layer (if-blocks oeated parallel withthe ,ii'oorgirdem Fig. 2, a detail section "ofther same v. parallel with,the floor girders andjacross the coneretebeams. Fig., 3,1m.detail-scctioneof t e same in the middle line ol'jone concrete'bealinlfyFig.4, a parallel 1)efrspeetiye viewrof one. of the terra cottal lookslemployedin .the same Aformof constructie-ri 5 Eig. 5, )a .fragmentaryperspective View. showing another form of construction in;.wltieli twelayers of blocks' are used; Fig.` G ,ran eutl inet section of the sameparallel with thetdloor girders and across the concrete J beams; Fig. 7,an outline section of the saine parallel with and intermediate theconcrete 'Specification ofLetters Patent.

,v3-These varioustobjects; and other accom-l 'I l Figure 1 rs, afragmentary perspective ,View

" I FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Anneau@ fuer December as, 1907. serial no. 407,733.

beams; Fig. 8, aV detail section of the same across one concrete beam;Fig. 9, a detail mediate the concrete beams; F ig. 10, a parallelperspective view of one ofthe special blocksemployed in the lower layer;Fig. 11, an outline section parallel with the floor girders and a `ossthe concrete beams show- Ving an altern te'form of construction withdouble thickness blocks in the lower layer, Similar numerals refer tosimilar .parts throughout the drawings. The most sim le form of theimproved construction is illustrated in Sheet 1 ofthe drawings, whereinthe blocks 1 are shown with portions 2 of each end cut-off tor leave theprojecting portions 3 of the lower wall and which proj ectin f portionsare butted endwise Vagainst the simi ar projecting portions of adjoiningblocks to form the channels 5 between the cut off ends of the respectiveblocks, in

ada `ted to be formed. 'In the manufacture of tiie blocks the endportions are preferably onl f ,partially cnt when the block is moldedand burned, and the ieces remain attached construction, when thepartially cut ends are knocked off by. a slight blow of a hammer. Thecut off ortion can then be broken into pieces 2ya and) ends of the lowerblocks thereby bridging 'the same and giving added protection to themetallic reinforcement. j l

A series of rows of the blocks 1, located side by side and parallel withthe floor girders 7, are laid on suitable scaffolding, and each rowextends from one girder to another. It is evident vthat with this formof construction the deck` of the scafioldin@ need only be made the. endsof the bloc-ks of theseveral rows, as shown i`n Fig. 1, instead of witha continuous deck of planks as is required in other forms ofconstruction. The metallic reinforcein. the channels 5 formed betweenthe ends of the blocks, and, as shown, these reinforcements are composedof the main members 9, located longitudinally and referably near thelwer part of the beam-c iannel, and the subordinate members 10 connectedat intervals on the main members. The subordinate members arefeachcomposed oi' a number of v section of the same parallel with andinterthe lowerI portions 4 of the vertical walls,

whichf channels the concrete. beam 6 1s 80 .until the blocks are s ippedto the place of the same are adapted to be laid across the joint formedby tlrjuncture of the with the separated plan sl 8 located under mentsfor the concrete beams are then placed 35 preferably finishe as with thelayer of plasv wires, preferably four, which 'are vwrapped around themain member from below upward 'and brought together in the middle of theupper side, 'whence they are twisted upward a sliort distance, whencethe respective wires 11v are separated and individually inclined upwardin various directions as may be desired. 'A'preferred manner ofdisposing the free ends of the wire is to incline them in slightlydiverging directions toward the ends ofthe' beam, and to locate theseveral subordinate members so that the two diverging ends of one memberwill overlap the diverging ends of the adjacent member, by means ofwhich the beam isv thoroughly bound t0- gether in various directionsthroughout its body.

The reinforcements having been placed y position,the concretebeams areformed in the channels between the ends of the blocks,

and in so'doing the concrete is run into the ends of the longitudinalcavities 12 in the blocks 1, thus forming the vlugs 13 whieh'constitutesubstantial and positive supports for the blocks. The floor surface 14is made of a layer of concrete in e'onjunetion with the I 4.span thedistance between the iioor girders; and constitute a positive supportfor each inbeams and consequently forms a monolith therewith, and itwill be'understood that the floor is suitably sustained either directlyon the girder flanges or, as shown, on supplemental terra cotta blocks,as 15 and lrresting on the girder flanges, and that after the concretebeams and iioor surface havebeeii set and hardened the scaffolding isentirely' removed, wliereu en the ceiling surface is ter 17. The outersuifaces of the respective 'blocks are preferably provided with thelongitudinal grooves 18 to increase the adhering surface of the `cementwhich is laid in the joints I9 and 'of the concrete andthe plaster.

It is evident that the concrete beams will dividual block in the-iioor,and the metallic reinforcements, having the longitudinal main member inthe lower part and the subordi nate members reaching in variousdirections upward through the beams'and into the concrete layer of thefioor surface, will. rigidly stiften and sustain the beams. Bytliisconstruction the abutting projecting portions of the lower wall ofthe blocks completely cover and protect the lowerA sides ofthe concrete.beams so that theycan not be chipped ofi' by the action of fire toexpose the metallic rein-- forcemen ts therein.

Another form of construction wherein two layers of terra cottabloeks areemployed, is shown in Sheet 2 of the' drawings. The blocks 1, locatedparallel with the floor girders 7, are formed square at the. endswithout any projection of the lower wall, and an underlying layer ofblocks 20 and 20"* is roca-.ted transverse the floor gii'ders. The

ends of the longitudinal blocks are spaced apart' andform the channels 5for the forination of the concrete beams, and the middle line of one rowof the transverse blocks is located* to register with this channel. Theportions 21 of the upper wall of these transchannel extends downwardinto the middle longitudinal cavities 12b of these blocks. The

shoulders 22 are formed at the sides of the openings inthe upper wall ofthese transverse blocks, and the longitudinal grooves .18 are foried onthe -outei' sidesv of all the `'middle cavities ofthe transverse blocks20 are-filled with the concrete so that these blocks are securelysustained by the shoulders 22 and by the grooves in the sides of thecavities; and the concrete is also run into thecnd's of the longitudinalblocks, and thel lugs 13a thus formed serve to securely support theseblocks.

independent of the other.

lWhen the longitudinal blocks' aie sufheiently long to require one ormore rows of l transverse blocks 20 between the beam-sup-l ported rows,suoli blpcks do not have their upper walls out out, and they aresupported 'by the adjoining beam-supported blocks by means of the cementin the'joints 19 which enters into the grooves 18 on the sides of theblocks. The floor surfaceisnished as be- "fore by making the layer 14 ofconcrete as a 'monolith with the transverse beams, which beams and iioorlayer o f concrete are bound together by the reinforcin wires 1131diverging upwards in dierent i iiections, and the ceiling surfaceispreferably finished Vwith the layer of plaster 17, I The ends of therows of transverse blocks are supported either li-l reetly on the o'orgirders or on the sup leverse blocks arecut -outl 'so that the beam'- iThere is thus provided a" substantial support for eachlayei' of blocksmental blocks 15n and 16?, and it is evi ent that the lower wall of thetransverse blocks completely incase the/ lower sides of the concretebeams and protect `them from being chipped of b the actionof fire toexpose the metallic rein orcements.

In the manufacture of the blocks 2() the portion 214 ofthe upper wall isonly partially cut away during t e molding and urning, and the same arepreferably ermitted turemain in position to stay the bllocks until theyare shipped to the lace of use, when the cut away portions are 'neckedout by the blow of a hammer.

amr Amami-1 corr In Fig. 1l is shown another form of construction inwhich the' lower ,la 1er is made of. blocks .20b and 20 of doublethickness, that lis to say having two rows of longitudinal cavities,which forni of construction `is inani-v festly madein the saine manneras describedv blocks of each row being located side by 'sidev and theextended ends ofthe lower walls of the blocks of adjacent rows beingbutted together to form a channel between the ends of the upperportions'thereof, with 'or without terra cotta plates spanning thejointsbetween the ends of the' lower walls, andconcrete beams iii thechannels and having lugs projecting into the ends of the block cavities,with or `without metallic reinforcements inthe beams, which is describedvand illustrated but not claimed herein is made the subject@ matter of4va sup leinent'al application for' Letters'latent, iiied February 20,1908, Serial No. 416,839: and,` the metallic reinforcement for 'aconcrete beam comprising a main member, and a series of separatesubordinate members located at intervalsapart and composed of aplurality of Wires wrapped around 4the main member and twisted togetheron the upperside thereof, and thence separated and extended -singly astension members upward in diagonally different directions, withor`without the .diverging *wiresv overla ping the similar wires ofadjacent subor inate members, which is described and illustrated, butnot claimed herein, is made the subjectmatter of a divisionalapplication for Letters Patent, filed February 21, 1908, Serial No.416,958. y

What I claim as my invention, and desire LA. floor structure includingaseries of rows of blocks having longitudinalc'avities therein, *theiblocks' 'of' each rowbeing 1ocatedfside by .side Vwith channels betweenthe `rows of blocks having longitudi ends of the blocks of adjacentrows, an un- .ign

derlying layer of blocks transverseiy coated and having open cavities:in their upper sides registering with the channels, vand concrete beamsin the channels and in the open cavi-- ties of the lower blocks andhaving .lugs en tending into the cavities of the upper blocks 2. A iioorstructure including'a series of rows of blocks having longitudinalcavities therein, the blocks of each row being located side by side withchannels between. the ends of the blocks of adjacent rows, anuiideilving layer of blocks transversely located and .av-

i ing open cavities in their upper sides register-- ing` with thechannels, concrete beams inthe channels and inthe open cavities of thelower blocks and having liirfs extending into the cavities of the upperblocks, and metallic' -inforcements in the beams.

' 3.- A iioor structure including a series of rows of blocks havinglongitudinal cavities therein, the blocks of each row being iccated sideby side with channels betwe ii the ends 'of the blocks of adjacent rows,ani id layer oi blocks transversely loe: ed and l ing open cavities intheir u, i ing with the chaiincis, concrete. beams in the channels andin the open cavities of the lower blocks and having lugs entending intothe cavities of the upper blocks, and a mono lithic concrete layer onthe upper blocks.

4. Ai ioor structurer including a series or' al cavities therein, theblocks of each row l? inglccated side by side with channels between theends of the blocks of adjacent rows, an underlying layer of blockstransversely located and ha ing open cavities in their upper ,sidesregisterin with the channels, concrete beams in the c annels and inthe-open cavities of the lower blocks and having lugs extei'idiiig intothe cavities of the upper blocirs, mon: mc

concrete layer on the up er blocks a d tallicl reinforcements bindingthe beams and concrete layer together.

Witnesses:

Josiirii Hannan, .MARY A. @Harmonia Sii

